How to Fix an Electric Scooter: The Complete Guide

Remember when you newly learned how to drive a car? Apart from teaching you how to drive, your instructor also taught you how to check and fix some basic things like when and how to change the windshield wipers, how to make sure the tires are in an adequate condition, when to change the oil and regulate the position of headlights. In the same manner, every scooter rider needs to know how to check and fix some key electric scooter parts when you have already ridden some kilometers. 

Just like every other gadget with moving parts, also your micromobility device may develop some faults from time to time. Ideally, these electric commuters are designed to work perfectly for a long time. However, due to riding on rougher terrain, dirty conditions, extreme temperatures or even just regular extended riding, can cause your ride to develop some minor faults that you could fix on your own without needing an expert.

Here are some of the issues you may encounter — some of them can easily be fixed by yourself, while others require the assistance of an expert.

Problem No. 1: My Electric Scooter Is Not Charging

When you press the power button but your scooter refuses to turn on, the first culprit you should suspect is the battery. If the battery is low, plug in the charger and charge it up. But what happens when it refuses to charge?

Learning how to fix an electric scooters’ charging issue is just as important as learning how to top up your car. Firstly, remove the standing deck and remove the battery to check the smell and condition. If it doesn’t smell burnt, doesn’t have any rust, and the parts are neither worn out nor swollen, then the battery may not be the issue. But if you notice any of these, then you likely need to replace the battery. Dropping the battery from higher places can also cause the weatherproof battery to take in water which can seriously damage the electronics.

Next, check the charger to ensure that it is working. A functional charger should show an indicator light when you plug it in. Your charger doesn’t have an indicator? You can use a digital multimeter (if you have one) to test it by placing the multimeter’s terminals on both of the power connectors. If the voltage climbs, it means that the charger is functional. If it doesn’t, you need to change the charger.

You can also do the same thing to check if the charging port is working. If you notice that your charging port is defective, you may need to take it to an electric scooter repair expert or the manufacturer.

Problem No. 2: My Electric Scooter Won’t Start

A common problem may be tied to removable batteries. In case the battery is removed and reconnected, it might not reconnect perfectly, therefore tricking the scooter electronics to think the battery is not inserted at all. In most cases, this leads to the IoT restricting the scooter from starting. Try inspecting the connections, cleaning them if necessary and inserting the battery again.

Now that you have made sure that your scooter’s battery is fully charged and functional, but your scooter still won’t start, the problem may very well lay in the electronics. Some electric scooters let you just start up the scooter from a button mounted on the scooter, others require the use of an app. When dealing with electronic signals, the problem can be either at the sending or receiving end.

If your scooter has a physical power-on button, make sure it is dry and try to push it firmly or even hold it for a brief moment. If your scooter works with a phone application, make sure your phone has good reception and the phone has established bluetooth connection with the scooter.

From the signal receiving end, make sure that the scooter electronics are also dry and warm. If your scooter works with an app, make sure your scooter is outside or close to a window/door for better mobile reception. The mobile cellular connection is important for the IoT which has to be connected to the internet to track and manage the vehicle.

Problem No. 3: My Scooter Starts but Won’t Move

The problems that can halt the movement of your e-scooter, although it is turned on, may include: 

• Some parts of the undercarriage may be missing, damaged, or worn out.
• Possible problem with the electric motor.
• The battery might be damaged and could have a short circuit.
• The throttle lever might have electrical issues.

Open up the ride to identify these issues, and replace the defective or missing parts. If you can’t handle this part of your e-scooter repair yourself, then you should contact an expert.

NB! Keep in mind that the majority of the micromobility vehicles require an initial push from the rider before starting to accelerate. On e-scooters, one or two pushes with your feet should be sufficient.

Problem No. 4: My Scooter Runs at Partial Throttle

A defective battery may have voltage problems that could prevent it from working at full throttle. The best way to repair an electric scooter when it presents this problem is by changing the battery.

Another plausible scenario might be that your scooter has an ECO or low-power mode, in which top speed is reduced. For Äike T, this is 20 km/h.

Problem No. 5: My Scooter Runs Extremely Slowly

First, make sure the battery is fully charged. An empty battery can cause the power output of a battery to drop causing the scooter to be able to move at lower and lower speeds. Other reason could be a weak battery or battery pack which could just output incorrectly on an inconsistent amount of power hence decreasing the speed… The motor may also be the cause, but more often than not it’s the battery’s fault. Replace your battery, and if the speed still doesn’t normalize, you should refer to the points where we explained how to determine and fix an electric scooter motor issues.

Problem No. 6: My Scooter Shuts Off While Riding

Once again, the first thing to check is the battery. Make sure the battery has plenty of charge. Riding in rain for extended periods or trying to use the scooter underwater can cause the battery and other electronics to short circuit. This may end your ride prematurely. Faulty or tripped circuit breaker can cause your electric commuter to shut off while on a ride. Overloading the deck’s weight limit or climbing very steep inclines could cause damage to the circuit breaker. Refer to the point of motor overheating to learn more. Usually, only an expert can repair electric scooter problems like these. 

Problem No. 7:  My Scooter’s Acceleration and Braking is Inconsistent or Jerky

This may happen due to faulty battery or motor controller. Battery replacement can be done at home, but problems with the motor controller have to be sorted with your local expert.

Problem No. 8: My Scooter’s Motor Heats Up

Engine overheating is a sign that your engine needs immediate attention, so it doesn’t get damaged. Engine overheating may be a motor manufacturing defect, or just that heightened temperatures combined with heavy loads on the motor may cause a situation where the motor can not cool down effectively. If the motor’s temperature increases above what is comfortable to hold, the ride should be stopped and the motor let to cool. A faulty electrical connection may also cause this problem.

The engine is a sensitive part of your device, so it may not be wise to try to repair this issue by yourself. Instead, contact the manufacturer if it’s still under the warranty period, or call an expert to manage it.

Problem No. 9: My Scooter Brakes Do Not Work

First thing to try is just a brake test. Either push yourself moving or gain a little bit of speed by accelerating and trying to stop. If you can comfortably squeeze the brake lever against the handlebar, it should be adjusted. To adjust the brake lever and braking feel, consult your owner’s manual and/or a specialist.

Problem No. 10: My Scooter is Making Weird Noises

If it sounds like pa-pa-pa-tss-pa-pa-pa-tss or hss-hšš-hss-hšš or like this, you could try to look over points discussed before. If none of the previous points have helped you figure out what could be the problem, you should just find a friend or a professional who can help you ascertain and fix the problem 🙂

Always Maintain Your Scooter to Keep It Running Smoothly

Just like your car, your micromobility device requires regular maintenance for it to continue to work optimally. Before every ride, do a thorough inspection of the parts to ensure that everything is working perfectly. Start from the tires to ensure they hold their shape and are not worn out.

Always check the brakes before you start riding, as they’re important for your safety. It is also important to inspect your dear commuter’s battery compartment from time to time, so you can detect any ongoing issues on time before it causes damage.

Conclusion

Knowing how to fix their commuting vehicle is an essential skill that everyone who owns these gadgets should have. It will save you the hassle of getting stranded or running to an expert to fix problems that you could easily handle on your own.

Above all, you need to buy a commuter with durable parts that don’t break down easily. With Äike T, you’re assured of long-lasting parts, and it comes with a removable battery that you can swap at any time. Äike T also offers a long warranty period, during which we will resolve any issue your scooter presents — at no cost. Click here to place your order.